PREPARATION OF POLY[(1,1-DIPROPYL)BUTANE-1,4-DIYL], (PR2CCH2CH2CH2)(N), VIA REGIOSPECIFIC RING-OPENING POLYMERIZATION OF 3,3-DIPROPYLCYCLOBUTENE

A general route to 3,3-disubstituted cyclobutenes is described and 3,3 -dipropylcyclobutene is subjected to ring opening metathesis polymeris ation (ROMP) using the Schrock initiator, Mo(=CHR)(=NAr)(OR')(2); wher e R is C6H5C(Me)(2)-, Ar is 2,6-diisopropylphenyl and R' is (Me)(3)C- to give a polymer which is completely regiospecific(HT) and stereospec ific (trans); the polymer is reduced to poly[(1,1-dipropyl)butane-1,4- diyl], which shows evidence of unusual properties associated with the conformational control exerted by the quaternary centres.